Royal Life Saving Society - Australia

30/10/2026

Today is World Teachers' Day. 💙

It's a day to celebrate all educators, and that includes Swim Teachers. Week after week, they help children build the swimming and water safety skills that can last a lifetime.

For many kids, a Swim Teacher is the first teacher they ever have. They turn nerves into confidence, splashes into strokes, and an unfamiliar environment into a place where children feel safe and capable.

Those early lessons do more than teach swimming. They lay the foundation for a lifetime of safe enjoyment in, on and around the water.

To every Swim Teacher making a difference in the pool today – thank you.

29/10/2026

Love working with people?

Pool Lifeguarding puts you at the heart of your local aquatic community - connecting with members, regular visitors and local families.

Along the way, you’ll build confidence, communication and teamwork skills while taking on real responsibility and doing work that matters.

If you enjoy connecting with people and want a job with purpose and variety, Pool Lifeguarding could be for you.

Pool Lifeguard by Royal Life Saving.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OO8DtM

28/10/2026

Great to see Archie Patten on the Today Show, highlighting the importance of swimming and water safety education for every child.

An inspiring young advocate helping to ensure no child misses out!

Keep up the fantastic work, Archie! 👏

28/10/2026

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia was proud to co-host the three-day India–Australia Drowning Prevention Technical Exchange alongside The George Institute for Global Health and the Directorate of Medical Education, Thiruvananthapuram.

Held in Kerala, India, the exchange brought together 30 representatives from government, research, public health, emergency services and community organisations to share knowledge, experiences and practical approaches to drowning prevention.

Discussions focused on improving drowning surveillance, strengthening swimming and water safety education, advancing community-based prevention and integrating drowning prevention into disaster risk reduction and climate action.

We were also pleased to have Australian organisations Surf Life Saving Australia, Swimming Australia, AUSTSWIM, SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia and Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Officer involved, contributing valuable expertise in swimming and water safety education, aquatic training, lifesaving and drowning prevention.

The exchange reinforced the importance of international collaboration, bringing together research, policy and community expertise to identify practical solutions and strengthen drowning prevention efforts in both countries.

Royal Life Saving acknowledges the support of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in delivering this exchange as a recipient of the Maitri Grants Program 2025.

27/10/2026

Looking for a job that works around study, sport and everything else you’ve got going on?

Pool Lifeguarding offers flexible work, an active environment and the chance to build confidence, responsibility and real workplace experience.

You’ll meet people, work as part of a team and develop skills you can take wherever you go next.

For many people, Pool Lifeguarding can be a great first step into employment.

Pool Lifeguard by Royal Life Saving.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OO8DtM

27/10/2026

At just 11 years old, school captain Archie Patten from St Joseph's Primary School in Maclean is making a difference.

Recognising that not every child has access to swimming lessons, Archie set out to change that. Through a school Colour Run, he raised an incredible $13,500, helping fund swimming lessons for every student at his school through to 2028.

His story is an inspiring example of young leadership, but it also reinforces an important national challenge.

Royal Life Saving research shows that 48% of children finishing primary school are not meeting the national swimming and water safety benchmarks.

Too many Australian children are missing out on essential swimming and water safety education, with cost and access continuing to create barriers for families and communities.

Royal Life Saving Australia continues to advocate for greater investment in swimming and water safety education to ensure no child misses out on learning these essential skills.

As Royal Life Saving Australia CEO Dr Justin Scarr told The Sydney Morning Herald, Archie's efforts are a reminder that more needs to be done to protect school swimming and water safety programs.

Congratulations to Archie for showing how one young person can inspire change and encouraging other school leaders to create their own ripple effect.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4yFjflX

When your country is girt by sea, it is pretty important that everyone learns to swim. Archie, 11, promised to do something about that.

27/10/2026

A look back on Day 2 of the National Aquatic Infrastructure Symposium 2026.

More than 100 experts came together in Adelaide to begin building a national plan to save community swimming pools for generations to come.

23/10/2026

A timely reminder of how quickly floodwater can become dangerous, and thankfully a story with a safe ending.

Floodwater is unpredictable. It can hide debris and strong currents that can sweep away a vehicle, even in relatively shallow, moving water, and it is almost impossible to judge the depth from the road.

With heavy rain continuing across parts of Queensland, Royal Life Saving urges everyone to stay safe in and around floodwater:

- Never drive through floodwaters
- Never swim in flooded waters
- Wherever possible, wear a lifejacket when in, on or around floodwaters
- If conducting a rescue, try and stay on dry ground and use reach or throw techniques first, always bring flotation if performing in-water rescues and only proceed if safe
- If a river level rises, go to safety as quickly as possible

Everyone has a role to play in preventing drowning. Please look out for each other and share these messages with the people around you.

22/10/2026

Want five great reasons to become a Pool Lifeguard?

1. A nationally recognised qualification
2. Training developed and delivered by industry experts
3. Flexible work that fits around your life
4. Pathways to jobs across Australia and overseas
5. A role that genuinely matters to your community

Become a Pool Lifeguard with Royal Life Saving: https://bit.ly/3OO8DtM